Cigar wrapper cutting and transfer mechanism



Oct. 19, 1948. s. CLAUSEN C IGAR WRAPPER CUTTING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 12, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 235 234 .FlG-I INVENTOR SIGURD CLAUSEN ATTORNEY Oct 19, 1948. I s. CLAUSEN 2,451,920

CIGAR WRAPPER CUTTING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM- Filed Nov. 12, 1943' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Has I F|C5.7

INVENTOR- SIGURD CLAUSEN ATTORNEY Fatentecl Oct. 19, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGAR WRAPPER CUTTING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Sigurd Clausen, New York, N. Yr; as-signer to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationNovember 12, 1943, Serial No. 509,'9;92

This invention relates to cigar machines, more particularly to a device for feeding leaf tobacco to the leaf cutting die of the machine whereon a leaf section is cut and transferred to the wrap per applying mechanism or other unit of the machine. Heretofore the leaf tobacco was positioned on the die immediately prior to the passage of the cutting rolls thereover wherefore the time during which the attendant could lay the leaf tobaccdon the die without obstructing the cutting rolls was curtailed.v Accordingly one of the main objects of the present invention is, to obtain a longer interval .in which the leaf tobacco may be positioned 'bythe attendant. To this end, there is provided, in the particular embodiment of the invention selected for exempliflcation, a swinging transfer whereon the leaf tobacco is positioned and suctionally retained. The trans.- fer carries the leaf tobacco to a position uponlthe die whereon the leaf tobacco is deposited for severance of a leaf section therefrom by the cutting rolls. Another object of the invention is to facilitate the patching of torn wrappers cut from the leaf tobacco. For this purpose the patch may be superimposed on the hole. in the leaf tobacco after the latter has been. spread outwith the veins uppermost on the swinging transfer. Then when the transfer is inverted and theleaf tobacco deposited on the die, the patch will be underneath the wrapper cut on the wrapper die.

Thus the patch will be positioned within the wrapper when the latter is transferred from the die to the wrapper applying mechanism wherein it is wound spirally about the cigar bunch.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a plan view of my novel leaf tobacco transfer associated with the wrapper cutting and wrapper applying mechanism of a cigar machine;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the manner in which a hole is patched in leaf tobacco on the leaf tobacco transfer and the arrangement of the patched leaf tobacco on the wrapper cutting bed;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan viewof the wrapper cuttin bed taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the same taken '0 the line 6-5 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a similar cross-section taken on the line 1-! of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the invention is exemplified inconjunction with wrapper 8 Claims. (Cl. 131-99") cutting and transfer mechanism. a hollow leaf tobacco transfer I!) is provided with a perforated face [2 wherein is yieldingly mounted a perforated suction head l4 whose outline conforms to the desired shape ofwrapper but is slightly larger than the wrapper cutting die 58. On a bolt l5 passing through the suction head l4 and the bottom of the leaf tobacco transfer is mounted a compression spring [8 which urges the suction head upwardly, the position of the head being regulated by the adjustment of the nut 20 threaded on the lower end of bolt l6 so it will be slightly above the face 12.

The leaf tobacco transfer is provided with hollow arms 22 clamped on a hollow shaft 24 and providing communication through ports 26 in the shaft (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4)., from the interior of theleaf tobacco transfer to the interior of the shaft. One end of shaft 24 is mounted in a suction box 21 which is supported by a bracket 28 fastened to the table 29 and connected by a pipe 36 to a suitable source of suction, such as a suction fan. Thus suction is maintained within the interior of the leaf transfer, and leaf tobacco spread on suction head M by the attendant will be suctionally retained thereon.

The other end of hollow shaft 24 is closed by a suitable plug '25, and to this end of theshaft is secured a pinion 3| meshing with a gear segment 32 mounted ona shaft 33 supported in a bracket 34 which is secured to the hollow bracket BI and provided with a stop screw'35. normally engaging with a boss 36 on the bottom of 'thetransfer lfl. The segment 32 is connected by a rod '31 to acam lever 38 fulcrumed on atshaft 39 carriedby a bracketed Acam roller Al on lever 38 engages a cam track 42 of a plate cam. mounted on the cam shaft ,46, whereby the leaf transfer 10 is swung forwardly to deliver the leaf tobacco to the wrapper cutting bed.

To the bracket 34 is also secured a plate 56 which projects forwardly under the transfer 10. On the free end of plate 50 is secured a table '52 whereon a stack of wrapper leaf tobacco T is supported. The attendant removes individual wrapper leaves from the stack and spreads them upon the suction head M .of the transfer, as ree quired for delivery to the wrapper cutting bed.

To the wrapper cutting bed .54 are fastened arms 56 wherein the shaft 24 is supported. The bed 54 has a perforated die shell 51 which surrounds the wrapper die .58, the shell and. die being supported by a plate mounted onfla base plate 62. Within the die 58 is mounted a'hollow suction head 04 which has a perforated top and is supported on a rod 66 slidably mounted in a hub of base plate 62 and connected by a link 68 to a cam lever I fulcrumed on shaft 39. The lever I0 has an arm I2 which carries a cam roller 14 engagin a disk cam I6, the cam roller being maintainedagainst the periphery of cam 46 by a tension spring 18 connected to lever I0.

The cam I0 operates to maintain the suction head 64 at a position wherein its top face is aligned with the cutting edge of the die 58 except to lower the suction head slightly during the passage of the cutting rolls over the die, and then elevate the suction head to deliver the out wrapper to the wrapper transfer mechanism as will be presently described. Since the connection of the suction head to the cam lever I0 and the noted operation thereof are conventional, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The plate 00 is indented at its top and bottom at the areas 80 and 82 thereof at either side of thedie, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Apertures 04 and 80 in the areas 90 and 8.2 communicate through underlying holes 30 and 90 of base plate 52 with a suction conduit 92 formed in a hollow bracket 9 l whereby suction is created in the inte rior of the die shell 51. Dhe hollow bracket SI has another conduit 92a which is separated from conduit 02 by a central partition 91 which extends upwardly through the entire length of the hollow bracket 0I into engagement with the bot tom of plate 62. Cionduit 02a communicates through an elongated slot 93 in plate '62 with the interior of suction head 04. Each conduit 92 and 92a has an intake 94 and 94a respectively, at either side of the partition 91, and the longitudinal edges of the intakes are aligned with the longitudinal edges of plate 02, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7. One lateral edge of the intake 94 is aligned with the left hand edge of the base plate 62 as shown in Fig. 3, and the lateral edge of the intake 94a is indicated by the dotted line 95 in Figs. 1 and 5. Each of the conduits 92 and 920. communicates at its lower end through port 99 and 99a, respectively formed in the lower end of bracket 9I with ports WI and mm, respectively, of a suction box I02. The latter is connected by a pipe I05 to a suitable source of suction such as a suction fan (not shown). A valve I01 slidably mounted in suction box I02 has a pair of ports I03 and I031; adapted to place the conduits 92 and 92a, respectively, in communication with the suction box when it is displaced upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2. For this purpose the valve TI is connected by a link I09 to a cam lever III fulcrumed on shaft 39 and provided with a cam roller II3 which is held against a cam II5 secured on shaft 46, the roller I I3 being held against cam H5 by a tension spring I I1.

Suction box I02 is provided with an extension which communicates with the main portion of the box through an opening I I9 and is connected by a conduit I to a wrapper transfer mechanism hereinafter described. A valve I2I slidably mounted in the suction box is provided with a port I2Ia adapted toplace the port H9 in communication with the main portion of the suction box, and thereby create suction in the wrapper transfer, when valve I2I is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2. For this purpose the valve I2I is connected by link I23 to cam lever III. It may be noted that the port I2Ia in valve I2I is brought into registry with opening II9 slightly before the valve I0I has been sufficiently moved upward to close port I 0Ia .fro over die 58 to sever a wrapper.

in the suction box, wherefore during the transfer of the wrapper fromthe suction head 64 to the wrapper carrier 203 suction is continued for a short period of time in suction head 64 until suction is applied fully to wrapper carrier 203. From the relative size and location of the ports I03 and I03a shown in Fig. 3, it is obvious that the suction in the die shell 51 will be maintained for a, longer period of time than in the suction head 64. This is done for the purpose of retaining the waste portion of the tobacco leaf after the wrapper is out until the operator is able to remove the same.

The suction box 21 is also provided with a slide valve I25 connected by a link I2'I to a cam lever I29 fulcrumed on shaft I3I supported by a bracket I33 mounted on the lower side of table 29. Cam lever I29 is equipped with an arm I30 carrying a roller I35 engaging with cam I3I secured on shaft 46. The valve I25 is thus operated to cut ofi the suction in the leaf transfer I0 when the latter has deposited the leaf tobacco upon the wrapper cutting bed. Thereupon the valve I0'I places the conduits 92 and 92a in communication with suction box I02 and the leaf tobacco is then suctionally held on the die shell 51 and the suction head 64 while the cutting rollers I40 and MI (Fig. 1) are moved to and The roller I40 is supported by arms I43 and I44 and the roller MI is supported by a U-shaped arm I45. These arms are carried by a shaft M1 on a member I49 projecting forwardly from a slide I5I mounted on a slide bar I53 and reciprocated by a cam lever I55. Since the manner in which the arms I43, I44 and I45 are mounted on the shaft I41 and the operation of the cam lever I55 are old and well known, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The wrapper transfer mechanism, which is similar to that shown in the patent to R. E. Rundell, No. 1,539,274, consists of a wrapper carrier 203 having aconsiderable number of perforations in its bottom, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Wrapper carrier 203 has a hollow stem 204 pivotally mounted in the free end of the carrier supporting means and provided at its upper end with a gear 205 by which it is rocked in a boss 206 formed on the free end-of the carrier supporting means. The carrier supporting means consists of two hollow interconnected sections 201 and 208 which are articulated at 209 approximately at the center of said means. The end of the carrier supporting means opposite the boss 206 is secured to the upper end of a hollow vertical shaft 2I0 journaled in a standard 2 rising from the table 20 of the machine. The lower end of the hollow shaft 2I0 is connected by the conduit I20 to the suction box I02. The upper end of the hollow shaft 2I0 is closed and the interior of the same is in open communication with the interior of the section 200 of the carrier supporting means whereby suction is applied to the wrapper carrier 203 to cause adhesion of the wrapper to its perforated bottom. The section 208 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 2I0 by means of a clamping bolt 2I4. The shaft 2I0 not only serves as a part of the suction apparatus for holding a wrapper on the carrier 203, but it also serves as means by which the carrier supporting means is moved about the anchorage. With this end in view, a segmental gear 2I5 is secured upon a portionof the shaft 2I0 below table 29. The segmental gear 2I5 is in mesh with a segmental gear 2 I6 formed on an arm 2|! fulcrumed at 2I8 to a bracket 2l 9 under.- lying table 29. The arm 2| 1 carries a branch rm mc i t rn orri s camb w lz ack n i acam ve .2 t o mcd o tt pe i e o a v m m 2 wh ch is mou upon the cam shaft 46. The mechanism just es r bed cilla e s ion .208. ab ut ts anchorage on shaft 2H3.

Means are provided for controlling the,,rela,- tive movement of the sections 2 and 3,.-Wh loh controls the movement of the axis of theuwrap per; carrier, and, as shown, this means has a rec nect i h e mo mcntoontr l ins. devicefor the carrier. With thisend in view,,

he section-2B1 o the a rie su ortin means is provided. with a horn 224, upon thefree end o Whi h' n integral up i t 2 25 carryin a cam bowl 226 trackingin a cam slot 221 formed, in a m plate 28. s pporte b a brack t-1 22.9. rising from the standard 2 before referredto. As the section 208 is swung abollt the anchorage, the engagement of the cam bowl 22-,-6; ,with i the cam slot 22,! alters the relative positions of the sections 201 and 2208, and controls the path of movement of the axis, of the wrapper car rier,

The Wrapper carrier is also given a rocking movement on its axis. This is accomplished in the following manner: The geary205 on the upper end of the stem 204 of the wrapper carrier meshes with a gear segment 230 on a lever 23L ful--1 crumed at 232 to a horn 233 projecting from the section 20'! beyond its point of articulation with. thesection 208. The lever 231' carries a cambowl 234tracking in a cam groove 235 formed in the cam plate 228 before referred to. the mechanism just described, as the section 2818.,

is moved about the anchorage, the engagement of the cam bowl 234 with the cam slot 235, changes the relative angular positions of the sectionzufl and the wrapper carrier.

Thewrapper carrier head 203, is thus moved to:

a position above the wrap-per cutting bed to re-,

ceive the out wrapper when the suction head 64 is; elevated, following the return of the cutting, rolls;-

to their initial position. When the wrapper initially engages the perforated, bottom of the; wrapper carrier 283, suction is maintained mo mentarily in the suction head 64 until suction isv created in the wrapper carrier. This is done for the purpose of preventing wrinkling or s ifting of the wrapper during the transfer. I The-suction is,

then cut off from the conduit 92;: by the movement of valve ill! and valv [2| keepsapplying suction to conduitl 2t thus retaining the wrapper suctionally on the perforated bottom of the Wrapper carrier.

its flag end is pasted, and the wrapper is re,- moved from thewrapper carrier and. appliedttoga cigar bunch by mechanism (not shown) Reference may now be had to Fig, 4 of thedrawings, wherein a novel methodof-patchingwrappers is illustrated in conjunction with my novel leaf tobacco transfer. After the leaf tobacco isspread out on the transfer II] with the hole or torn por tion thereof shown in dottedlinesdisposed within the outline of the suction head [4, a patch of leaf tobacco may be superimposed on the hole. 7 The.

patch may be secured to the leaf tobacco, if desired, by applying adhesive to its lower face or the underlying portion of the leaf tobacco, However, the patch will be retained in positiomeven though dhe e i ii d by he u tion ap lied tothe Thoathc .trons r loi d pos ts the By vmeans of T e wrap i he rans. ported by the Wrapper carrier to a position where o f om: on

lear-toloaccopon e p r c tting b the patch.

will be underneath the wra per cut therefrom on the die and w l be et n d against the w a p r While thcoletter, 2,1 tronstcrrc y t e wra per rr cr o, the. n encreannlyins m chanism-i h s thcnatohwi l. b enclo e 1 hinthc W aps per whcnethci ottc i nwoundsnira lv about the Althoushwlthc sucti n'hcad. It :oi-th lea ohoccot ans e -i disclo d asconiorios indoor ;v incitothc s on of-t owrenporcu tins die, i will eund stoos th timer b o a di e ent shape.

Provi ed it i 1 tha thciwra p ttin e;- flh seii t ion he d s: ar er; antbe appe -1. cu tin e. neon en a ing the cuttin ge of-tho apo ricu tine di i W libo ressed t thclc obttccotr ns era ai t thor sistcc omance 1 I 8' 'whil theapo i n o t ans er. I0 s rrou ding the suct on ho d H pr es;

n t oni f t e a -t baccoexten in outside. of e iottcrios inst:thcdiet sh ll 51;; .In t i mannor suc o a odh s on o t c c i toba coto he.

die shel as u d. fo if hclc fto ac owere notpressede a ainst the die shell andu houldibe r nkled h V9401? mi, he octwcc w u d, :be

said dieandheld by thepepforated face of .said, iih ii qrtion of ;said bed outside. pens for creating suctionin'said.

rrie e o field-(d m oarricronol h r b caus nasuctionai adhesion of the;;leaf-tobaec o to.1the perforated face thereof h loitz strommrt n thcsameto the diet-and devices-for terminating the suction in said car.-

rier-n -hen the leaf t bacco is positioned on-said,

die-,and appl ing-suctionto said bed while the leaf tobacco, is held thereagainstbythe perforated ace if-said carrier to. Cause adhesion .of theleaf tobacco to said bed,

2.11133, ,cjgar machinethe.combination with a cuttingbed including a die adapted to cut a section-from leaf-tobacco. spread on the die, of a hollow carrier; having a perforated face adapted to suppont'ileaf tobacco spreadthereon, mechanism formovings aid carrier-from oneposition at which the leaf tobacco isspread on its perforated face,

to, another. position attwhichithe leaf tobacco isdeposited on. said die; meanslfor-creating suction in said. carrier,- and thereby causing suctional adhesionof-the'; leaftobaoco tothe perforated face thereof lwhilelitiis transporting the same to the die, and a; device for terminating the suction in said carrier when-the. leaf tobacco is positioned on. said die; saidlcarrier including a perforated suction head .whose'outline conforms to-the shape ofv the die; said head being mounted in theleaf tobacco supporting face of thecarrier, and'a device for yielding-1y supporting saidsuction head in a position slightly above the leaf supporting face of theicarrier; said head being arranged to engagetheidieawhen said-carrier is at leaf depositingupositionyand thereby be displaced inwardly on. the carrier to permit the carrierto press the tobacco against the cutting bed} 3; In a cigar mao'hine -thecombination with-'a stationary cutting bed including a die adapted to cut a section from leaf tobacco spread on the die, said cutting bed being provided with a perforated die shell surrounding the die and aperforated suction head within the die, of a hollow carrier having a perforated face adapted to support leaf tobacco spread thereon, mechanism for moving said carrier from one position at which the leaf tobacco is spread on its perforated face, to another position at which the leaf tobacco is deposited on said die and held by said carrier against said suction head and die shell, means for creating suction in said carrier and thereby causing suctional adhesion of the leaf tobacco to the perforated face thereof while it istransporting the same to the die, a device for terminating the suction in said carrier when the leaf tobacco is positioned on said die, and means for applying suction to said die shell and suction head after said carrier has deposited the leaf tobacco on the die, while the leaf tobacco is held against said suction head and die shell by said carrier, and the suction has been terminated in said carrier, to cause the leaf tobacco to be suctionally retained on the cutting bed, cutting rolls adapted to traverse the die to sever a section from the leaf tobacco suctionally retained on said suction head and die shell, and means for moving said cutting rolls to and fro over the die.

4. In a cigar machine, the combination with a stationary cutting bed including a die adapted to cut a section from leaf tobacco spread on the die, of a hollow carrier having a perforated face adapted to support leaf tobacco spread thereon, mechanism for moving said carrier from one position at which the leaf tobacco is spread on its perforated face, to another position at which the leaf tobacco is deposited on said die, means for creating suction in said carrier and thereby causing suctional adhesion of the leaf tobacco to the perforated face thereof while it is transporting the same to the die, a device for terminating the suction in said carrier when the leaf tobacco is positioned on said die, said cutting bed being provided with a perforated die shell surrounding the die and a perforated suction head within the die, and means for applying suction to' said die shell and suction head after said carrier has deposited the leaf tobacco on the die and the suction has been terminated in said carrier, to cause the leaf tobacco to be suctionally retained on the cutting bed, said carrier having a perforated section which is larger than the die, said section being movably mounted in the leaf supporting face of the carrier, and a device for yieldingly supporting said section in position to engage the die at the leaf depositing position of said carrier whereby said section will be displaced inwardly on thecarrier and the latter will press the leaf tobacco against the die shell.

5. In a cigar machine, the combination with a stationary cutting bed including a'die adapted to cut a section from leaf tobacco spread on the die, said cutting bed being provided with a .perforated die shell surrounding the die and a perforated suction head within the die, of a hollow carrier having a perforated face adapted to support leaf tobacco spread thereon, mechanism for moving said carrier from one position at which the leaf tobacco is spread on its perforated face, to another position at which the leaf tobacco is deposited on said die and held against said suction head and die shell by said carrier, means for creating suction in said carrier and thereby causing suctional adhesion of the leaf tobacco tothe perforated face thereof while it is transporting the same to the die, a device for terminating the suction in said carrier when the leaf tobacco is positioned on said die, and means for applyingsuction to said die shell and suction head after said carrier has deposited the leaf tobacco on the die and the suction has been terminated in said carrier and while the leaf tobacco is held against said suction head and die shell by said carrier, to cause the leaf tobacco to be suctionally retained on the cutting bed.

6. In a cigar machine, the combination with a stationary cutting bed including a die adapted to cut a section from leaf tobacco spread on the die, of a hollow carrier having a perforated face adapted to support leaf tobacco spread thereon, mechanism for moving said carrier from one position at which the leaf tobacco is spread on its perforated face, to another position at which the leaf tobacco is deposited on said die, means for creating suction in said carrier and thereby causing suctional adhesion of the leaf tobacco to the perforated face thereof while it is transporting the same to the die, a device for terminating the suction in said carrier when the leaf tobacco is positioned on said die, said cutting bed being provided with a perforated die shell surrounding the die and a perforated suction head within the die, and means for applying suction' to said die shell and suction head after said carrier has deposited the leaf tobacco on the die and the suction has been terminated in said carrier, to cause the leaf tobacco to be suctionally retained on the cutting bed, said carrier including a perforated member mounted in the leaf supporting face thereof and corresponding in outline to the die but of slightly larger size, and a device for yiel'dingly supporting said member in a position slightly above the leaf supporting face of the carrier, said member being arranged to engage the die and suction head of the cutting bed at the leaf depositing position of the carrier, and thereby be displaced inwardly on the carrier to permit the carrier to press the leaf tobacco against the die shell.

7. In a cigar machine, the combination with a suction wrapper cutting bed including a wrapper cutting die adapted to cut a wrapper from leaf tobacco spread on the die, said bed having a portion outside of and surrounding said die, of a carrier having a perforated face adapted to support leaf tobacco spread thereon, mechanism for moving said carrier from one position at which the leaf tobacco is spread thereon to another position at which the leaf tobacco is positioned on the die and held by said carrier against the portion of said bed outside said die, means for creating suction in said carrier and thereby causing suctional adhesion of the leaf tobacco to the perforated face of the carrier while the leaf tobacco is being transported to the die, a device for terminating the suction in said carrier when the leaf tobacco is positioned on said die and applying suction to said bed while the leaf tobacco is held against said bed by said carrier to cause adhesion of the leaf tobacco to said bed, mechanism for cutting a wrapper from the leaf deposited on the die, and means for transporting the cut wrapper to wrapper applying position.

8. In a cigar machine, the combination with a cutting bed including a die adapted to cut a Wrapper from leaf tobacco spread on the die and a vertically movable member within said die, of a carrier provided with perforations on its upper face, a device for applying suction to the perfo- 9 rations in the upper face of said carrier to cause adhesion thereto of leaf tobacco and a leaf tobacco patch superimposed on and covering a hole in said leaf tobacco, said carrier being movable to an inverted position above said die to deposit the adhering leaf tobacco and patch on said die and member with the tobacco patch underneath the leaf tobacco and within the die, and said device operating to maintain suction on the perforated face of said carrier and thereby retain the leaf tobacco and patch thereon until the leaf tobacco and patch are deposited on said die and member, mechanism for cutting a wrapper from leaf tobacco so deposited on the die, a wrapper transfer adapted to transport the cut wrapper to wrapper-applying position, said wrapper transfor having a perforated face adapted to engage the cut Wrapper, said movable member being adapted to raise the cut wrapper and patch into contact with the perforated face of said Wrapper 10 transfer, and means for creating suction within said wrapper transfer to cause suctional adhesion of the cut wrapper and the tobacco patch to the perforated face of the wrapper transfer.

SIGURD CLAUSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Clausen Nov. 22, 1932 

